Surgical mentoring: a critical skill.

Surgeons routinely share medical knowledge, surgical techniques, and medical judgment with junior colleagues in their everyday practice. Most information is transferred by chance encounters, i.e., a patient in the clinic or a patient in the operating room. An understanding of principles of adult learning can aid a senior surgeons' ability to convey this information. Formalizing this transfer of knowledge through a mentoring program allows wisdom and skills to be passed on in a manner that accelerates the lessons for the recipient. In addition, a formal program allows the inclusion of a diverse group of protégés and not just the chosen "golden few."